The Mini Cooper Countryman, a four-door version of the popular Mini Cooper coupe, was the only one of 12 small cars to be awarded the top safety rating after a series of crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The IIHS test results, released yesterday (July 30, 2014), showed that of the dozen cars smashed into pillars at the IIHS test facility in Ruckersville, Virginia, the Countryman was deemed “good” overall in the “small overlap front crash test.” In that test, meant to replicate some real world auto accidents, the front corner of the test car is smashed into a stationary object at about 40 miles per hour.

“The Mini Cooper Countryman gave a solid performance,” said Joe Nolan, IIHS senior vice president for vehicle research. “The Countryman’s safety cage held up reasonably well. The safety belts and airbags worked together to control the test dummy’s movement, and injury measures indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a real-world crash this severe.”

Four cars were deemed “poor” overall in the crash tests, and others had mixed results.

“Collapse of the occupant compartment is the downfall for four small cars in this group, including the Fiat 500L, Mazda 5, Nissan Juke and Nissan Leaf,” Nolan said. “A sturdy occupant compartment allows the restraint systems to do their job, absorbing energy and controlling occupant motion.”

“The (Chevrolet) Volt, which has a basic-rated optional forward collision warning system, is the only car in this test group to earn a 2014 Top Safety Pick+ award,” the IIHS said. “The C-Max Hybrid, Countryman, Mitsubishi Lancer, and the Scion FR-S and its twin the Subaru BRZ qualify for Top Safety Pick, the Institute’s second-highest award. These models miss the ‘plus’ award because they don’t have an available front crash prevention system.”